UN says forest fires need rapid response

JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations body said here yesterday that a rapid response was still required to cope with forest fires in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya despite some respite in the past week.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) said that even though the state of emergency appeared to be over, the ongoing peat, coal and surface fires continued to contribute to the spreading haze.

"This is having an adverse affect on human health, the environment and the economy," said UNDAC, which sent a team to Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya late last month for two weeks to conduct on-site surveys in certain areas.

The team was dispatched by the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA) to assist UN Resident Coordinator and the government in needs assessment, resource mobilization and the coordination of international assistance.

The team, which carried out field assessment missions to the areas along with several donor country representatives, identified several priority needs.

They include ground fire-fighting equipment and medical supplies for the treatment of respiratory infections, asthma, conjunctivitis and diarrhea.

Also needed are small water treatment units to purify the drinking water supply. In Irian Jaya, water jerrycans and kitchen utensils are also urgently needed, as well as fuel for air transportation, it said.

Ravi Rajan, UN Resident Coordinator here and also the resident coordinator for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said coordinated efforts should continue to deal with the immediate crises.

"(However) an assessment of the long-term impact of the emergency on health, the economy and the environment -- including biodiversity... organic production and decomposition -- and the development of medium and long-term strategies for future fire prevention and control are called for," Rajan said.

UNDP has pledged US$200,000 to initiate a forest fire impact assessment and mitigation project. The international community has up to date pledged cash contributions valued at more than $1.5 million, of which $630,000 is channeled through the UNDHA.

"Pledged in-kind contributions reached $2.55 million, but the value of in-kind contributions has not yet been established," UNDP said.

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) announced yesterday that it has dispatched 105,250 respiratory masks to Kalimantan and Sumatra where an estimated 20 million people are faced with respiratory problems because of the haze.

Walhi said the demand for the masks was higher, at 4,130,000. It also announced yesterday that it has managed to raise Rp 104,435,000 from public donations to help those affected by the haze.

According to the Environmental Impact Management Agency, the number of hot spots, or fire locations detected by satellite, in Sumatra and Kalimantan declined from 62 Sunday to 19 Monday.

But reports about the choking haze are still pouring in. The haze in some areas caused airports to remain closed.

Antara reported that Padang in West Sumatra, for instance, had for the past three days been blanketed by haze worsened by unpredictable drizzle. Residents have become used to darkness almost all day long, it said.

Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan was also suffering from thick haze, the news agency said.

Antara also reported yesterday that 6,217 hectares of forest in the Lorentz National Park in Irian Jaya's Jayawijaya regency have been ravaged since last April. (aan)